The Renewal of St Michael’s Cathedral in Veszprém

Architects: Tamás Czigány, Anikó Páll, Róbert Papp
Szöveg: György Szegő
Fotók: Balázs Danyi

The major state-funded project covered 18 buildings in the castle district – including the main church – to be renovated by the Archdiocese of Veszprém between 2020 and 2025. The majority of the monuments involved, which have been reborn and their renovation is near complete, will be open to visitors as Veszprém has been awarded the title European Capital of Culture in 2023. The renovation of St Michael’s Cathedral, with the exception of the crypt, has been completed. The main church of the Archdiocese of Veszprém is a basilica minor. Its construction was launched by Queen Giselle between 1030 and 1040. The medieval alterations, the Baroque style following the destructions of the Turkish period and the modern-age rebuildings have strongly influenced the architecture we can see today. The aesthetics of the Baroque and Historicist-Revivalist periods were undeniably ideological in nature. Nor can the interventions of the 1970s be said not to have influenced the proposals for a ‘historic preservation’. Today’s alterations and renovations are primarily justified by the deteriorated overall technical state of the building. The necessary interventions, based on research work, were accompanied by a renewal of the liturgical space in a new spirit.

Client: CASTELLUM Vagyonkezelő Igazgatóság
Leading architect: Tamás Vörös
Monument history projekt management: Áron Vavra
Architecture interiors: CZITA Architects
Architects: Tamás Czigány, Anikó Páll, Róbert Papp
Structure: Balázs Higi
Framework: István Serfőző
Building history research: Anna Simon
Research of the history of the organ: Judit Hajdók
Painting restoration research: Jenő Csanda
Wooden restoration research: Tamás Somos
Metal restoration research: Gábor Németh
Stone restoration research: Katalin Szűcs, Attila Csontos
Glass restoration research: László Czifrák, Dóra Nagyváradi
Archaeology: Dóra Hegyi– Hungarian National Museum
Organ reconstruction: Attila Budavári, Tamás Gábor
Liturgical tools: Kristóf Gelley, Zoltán Mátyás
Restoration of wooden furniture: Áron Erős
Glass window restoration: Barnabás Wölfinger
New glass windows: Barnabás Wölfinger, Bernadett Hegyvári
Lighting: Ferenc Haász, András Balogh
Lighting fixtures: Lumoconcept